of elgin



W. H. LESTER BUCKLE Filed April 9, 1923 Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

WILLIAM H. LESTER, QF ELG-IN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS WATCH CASE COM- PANY, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BUCKLE.

Application filed April 9, 1923. Serial No. 630,781.

I '0 alt whomz't may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Lns'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to buckles of the kind that are conveniently associated with a belt, strap, web, or similar article, for adjustably connecting the ends thereof. For its principal objects, it aims to combine cheapness in manufacture with simplicity in the formation and assembly of its constituent parts, and with positiveness in the connection which it provides between the belt ends. v

An exemplification of this invention is set forth. in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure l is a view in elevation looking toward the rear or inner side of the buckle to which are secured the ends of the associated belt;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in longitudinal section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts moved to clamping position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end elevation of the buckle; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clamping elements disassociated from the body of the buckle.

For convenience in explanation, the present buckle is shown, and will be described, in connection with a belt or strap A of con ventional design, having one of its ends 10 bent back as at 11 and held upon itself as with the aid of a snap fastener 12. This end of the belt is adapted to be secured nonadjustably to one part of the buckle. The other belt end 13 connects adjustably with the buckle, and is clamped in place by the means which will presently be mentioned.

The present buckle includes a body member B, a clamp C, and an actuating means D therefor. As shown, the body member comprises a front piece 15 in the form of a plate, preferably arched longitudinally, and provided along its opposite sides with cars 20, between which is extended a pivot pin 21 the ends of which may be upset or enlarged as at 22. This pivot pin also serves as a pivotal mounting for the clamp a and its actuatlng means D, in the manner that will shortly appear.

Theactuating member D is in the general form of a plate having therein an elongated opening 25 capable of receiving the beltiend 10 when looped theretln'ough. By

means such as this, the belt end may be con veniently attached to the buckle. Addition- .ally the actuating member is provided with a pair of ears 26 which lie to the inside of the ears 20 which are formed on the body.

The clamp member C, whose cross scition is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, preferably comprises two angularly related sections and 81 having at their opposite ends ears 32 in which are round holes adapted to register with other similar openings in the other cars previously mentioned. Through all of these ears the pivot pin 21 is extended so as to form a common pivotal connection for all three components of the belt. It is contemplated that the clamp ears 32 will lie just to the inside of the actuator ears 26 as shown, so that the relative transverse positions of the belt components will be substantially constant.

One of the clamp sections, bearing the numeral 31, is preferably curved in the form of a cam, its acting surface being serrated or ribbed as at 33 so as to form a better frictional contact with the belt when pressure is exerted thereupon. An operative connection between the clamp and the actuating means therefor is provided by a lug 35 which projects from the section 30 of the latter, this lug being extended so as to protrude through a slot 36 which is within the channel 01": the'body member and adjusted therein to the desired position.

During these operations-the actuator, together with the clamp associated therewith, *2 issheld :1n zi -disengaging 'POSIClOIl' such as is shown in Fig, 3. 1 To clamp the sliding ,xb'elt endto-the body'of' thebuckle, the actuating member is swung around the pivot ipin 21-.5- as i an 2LXlS,;lTl1lS movement causing "jtllBOttlHffiJCQ of-the clamp tobear with an increasing pressure ;upon the" belt. Owing to thecurvature of the-cam-secti'on'of the ":cl aanp; which follows in a generalway that i 'of-the bodymember, but with a lesser radius,

25 increased according to the extent of movement oli -the actuator. The loose'connection which obtains vbetweenthis part and the c'lam is'suclras to afford to the former a desirable latitude-for play, this being of advantage both preliminary to pressure bei'ng-emerted by the clamp, and'also subse- "quently when' the clamp is-fi'rmly engaged "with thevbelt, inasmuch as one belt end is fconneoted to the actuator. The reinforced Fedge 18x01? the-'bodymemberlies close to the point where Y the carnexerts its 1 pressure ""u'pon'the belt, but is slightly offset therefrom; so *as to 1 assist-: not only in resisting the pressure exertedby the cam, but also in strap is required to bend adj acent' the point "WVh'ere' such' pressure is applied. A construct-ion of this kind-adds to the security heicl'amping pressure uponthe belt 'willbe providing a-ridge overwhich 'thebelt orwith which the adjustable belt end may be held by the buckle.

The several compounds of this invention may be variously formed so as to receive any desired ornamentation or other embellishments. In general the construction shown and described is such as may be producedadvantageously, both with regard to economy in manufacture, and efiiciency in the engagement with the belt. Except as limited by the claims below, i desire that any modifications which utilize the principles of this invention should be included within the scope thereof.

I claim:

In a buckle, the combination of a body member having a plate against which a bell may be slidingly rested, there-being ears upstanding from opposite'sides ofthe plate. a clamp having eam'face' adapted to exert pressure against th belt tothereby force the same tightly against the body p'late,'th e clamp having an ear at each end in-pr0x1- mate'relation to-thecars on the body member, an actuating means also formed with ears adjacent those on the-remaining parts and provided with a loop through which one end of the belt may be secured, there being a hole through each of the several ears and a pin extending through-all of the holes to provide ace-axial pivotal connection between the bodymember, the clamp, and the actuating means, the-clamp having a portion-0f itself extending from its cam face to the actuating means and project-ed through a-slot therethrough'in such a manner as to form a loose connection therewith whereby-the actuating means may be utilized to operate the Clfl1"flp,Sl1bStflli tially as described.

WILDIAM H. LESTER. \Vitness:

EPHRAIM B-ANNING. 

